Manchester United 3-0 Hull City

Robin van Persie has scored four league goals this season

• Rooney scores seventh goal in five matches against Hull
• Steve Bruce loses in 700th match as a manager
• Goal decision system used for United's opener
• Di Maria limps off after 13 minutes

Robin van Persie's powerful strike capped an impressive win for Manchester United over Hull and offered the perfect response to those who have questioned the Dutchman's early-season form.

Those critics included Van Persie's manager Louis van Gaal, who kept the striker in his starting line-up despite saying he had a "very bad game" against Arsenal last Saturday.

Media playback is not supported on this device

Robin van Persie goal was beautiful - Van Gaal

By the time Van Persie turned on the edge of the area to arrow an unstoppable shot into the top corner in the 66th minute, United were well on their way to a routine victory.

Chris Smalling had scrambled them into an early lead, and any real doubt about the outcome disappeared when Wayne Rooney added a second before half-time.

As well as Van Persie's return to scoring form more than a month after his last Premier League goal, United could celebrate the return of fellow striker Radamel Falcao, who came off the bench to replace him after nearly six weeks out through injury.

That added a shine to three points that returned United to fourth place in the table only a few hours after Arsenal had moved above them.

While United are building momentum and confidence despite suffering another injury setback - Angel Di Maria limped off just before Smalling scored - the Tigers appear to be in freefall.

This was their fourth straight defeat, and they are now only out of the bottom three on goal difference and a point off the foot of the table.

Hull have managed only one league win since the opening day of the season, the same afternoon United last lost at Old Trafford.

A familiar foe for Bruce
Former Manchester United captain Steve Bruce has never beaten his former team during his 16-year managerial career. This was his 17th defeat in 21 attempts, with draws accounting for the other four meetings.

Their home form was never convincing under David Moyes, but Van Gaal seems to have reintroduced the swagger and self-belief that was their trademark under Sir Alex Ferguson.

They were helped on Saturday by a Hull team that offered little ambition and limited resistance.

Tigers boss Steve Bruce has a miserable record against the club he played for, and a first win in 21 attempts against the Red Devils as a manager never looked likely.

The Tigers even assisted United with their first goal - goalkeeper Allan McGregor helping the ball over the line as he tried to keep out Smalling's prodded shot. Goal-line technology confirmed it went in.

Media playback is not supported on this device

Man Utd 3-0 Hull City: Steve Bruce rues 'awful' day

With Michael Carrick and Juan Mata dictating play and spraying passes in midfield, Di Maria's early exit, clutching the back of his thigh, did not make a difference.

United were dominating possession - they had 76% of the ball - and with Hull defending deep in their own half, more goals seemed just a matter of time.

Rooney all but secured the three points after 42 minutes when Van Persie teed him up to bend a low shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Van Persie made sure of the victory midway through the second half, departing to a standing ovation when he was replaced by Falcao.

The Colombian looked set to mark his return with a goal but Michael Dawson's remarkable goalline clearance denied him from close range after Hull's defence was torn apart again.

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince on BBC Match of the Day: "Louis van Gaal said it would be a work in progress. He's had a nightmare with injuries, especially defensively. His ambition is to finish in the top four, he's not looking to win the league. They are slightly improving game by game.

"Hull boss Steve Bruce has got plenty of experience. It won't be a case of panicking just yet but he knows they have to start creating and scoring goals. He'll be disappointed with the performance, that's for sure."

Hull have kept only two clean sheets in the Premier League this season

Chris Smalling has scored three league goals for Manchester United and two have come against Hull

Angel Di Maria joined Manchester United from Real Madrid for a British record £59.7m in the summer

Hull have lost their last four matches and have only recorded two league victories so far

Manchester United's England striker Wayne Rooney has scored 11 goals for club and country this season

Wayne Rooney has scored 67 goals in his last 101 Premier League games at Old Trafford

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Man Utd

• 1de Gea
• 25A ValenciaSubstituted forFletcherat 74'minutes
• 12Smalling
• 5RojoBooked at 89mins
• 18Young
• 31FellainiBooked at 47mins
• 16Carrick
• 8Mata
• 7Di MaríaSubstituted forHerreraat 14'minutes
• 20van PersieSubstituted forFalcaoat 70'minutes
• 10Rooney

Substitutes

• 9Falcao
• 11Januzaj
• 13Lindegaard
• 21Herrera
• 24Fletcher
• 33McNair
• 42Blackett

Hull

• 1McGregor
• 5ChesterBooked at 54mins
• 21DawsonBooked at 65mins
• 6Davies
• 27El Mohamady
• 17DiaméSubstituted forQuinnat 75'minutes
• 14Livermore
• 11BradySubstituted forMeylerat 75'minutes
• 26Robertson
• 34Ben ArfaSubstituted forAlukoat 35'minutes
• 18Jelavic

Substitutes

• 2Rosenior
• 4Bruce
• 7Meyler
• 8Huddlestone
• 16Jakupovic
• 24Aluko
• 29Quinn

Referee:

Anthony Taylor

Attendance:

75,345

Match Stats

Home TeamMan UtdAway TeamHull

Possession

Home76%

Away24%

Shots

Home15

Away4

Shots on Target

Home7

Away2

Corners

Home7

Away0

Fouls

Home12

Away12

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Manchester United 3, Hull City 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Manchester United 3, Hull City 0.

Posted at 90'+4'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 90'+3'

Delay in match Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) because of an injury.

Posted at 90'+2'

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Andrew Robertson.

Posted at 90'+1'

Offside, Hull City. Allan McGregor tries a through ball, but Sone Aluko is caught offside.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Ander Herrera (Manchester United).

Posted at 90'+1'

Michael Dawson (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+1'

Attempt blocked. Falcao (Manchester United) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.

Posted at 90'+1'

Attempt blocked. Falcao (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Juan Mata.

Booking

Posted at 89'

Marcos Rojo (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Marcos Rojo (Manchester United).

Posted at 89'

Sone Aluko (Hull City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 87'

Darren Fletcher (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 87'

Foul by David Meyler (Hull City).

Posted at 81'

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Michael Dawson.

Posted at 76'

Attempt saved. Nikica Jelavic (Hull City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Ahmed Elmohamady with a cross.

Substitution

Posted at 75'

Substitution, Hull City. Stephen Quinn replaces Mohamed Diamé.

Substitution

Posted at 75'

Substitution, Hull City. David Meyler replaces Robbie Brady because of an injury.

Substitution

Posted at 74'

Substitution, Manchester United. Darren Fletcher replaces Antonio Valencia.

Posted at 74'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 73'

Delay in match Sone Aluko (Hull City) because of an injury.

Substitution

Posted at 70'

Substitution, Manchester United. Falcao replaces Robin van Persie.

Posted at 70'

Attempt missed. Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Ashley Young with a cross.

Posted at 68'

Offside, Hull City. Allan McGregor tries a through ball, but Nikica Jelavic is caught offside.

Goal!

Posted at 66'

Goal! Manchester United 3, Hull City 0. Robin van Persie (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Ander Herrera.

Posted at 65'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Booking

Posted at 65'

Michael Dawson (Hull City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 65'

Robin van Persie (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 65'

Foul by Michael Dawson (Hull City).

Posted at 61'

Attempt missed. Nikica Jelavic (Hull City) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Robbie Brady following a set piece situation.

Posted at 61'

Foul by Juan Mata (Manchester United).

Posted at 61'

Nikica Jelavic (Hull City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 60'

Offside, Manchester United. Marcos Rojo tries a through ball, but Wayne Rooney is caught offside.

Posted at 58'

Delay in match Robbie Brady (Hull City) because of an injury.

Posted at 57'

Offside, Manchester United. Michael Carrick tries a through ball, but Robin van Persie is caught offside.

Posted at 56'

Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 56'

Foul by Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull City).

Booking

Posted at 54'

James Chester (Hull City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 54'

Ashley Young (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Show more updates